* Assuming that, as I've included Sobers below in the allrounders category he doesn't get a spot here in the middle order players. If he was included here, slot him in at 4 after Viv, with Headley sliding out.

Actually I just went through the batting records during his career, and removing Sri Lanka so Richards can be on equal footing, there are only 3 other comparable batsman: Border (51.77), Miandad (55.28) and Chappell (54.38). Both Javad and Allen were pretty poor against the best team of their time, West Indies (in fact, Javad isn't too hot against Sri Lanka either and Border with S.Africa) so that leaves Chappell. Who, actually, probably does have a very legimitate claim to being the 2nd best batsman after Bradman. The rest either hadn't batted enough in that period to merit comparison and others (like Gavaskar) averaged below him.

Interesting that those players' averages all go up when you exclude the minnow. Javed particularly so.

Interesting that those players' averages all go up when you exclude the minnow. Javed particularly so.

Javed's does by a bit. He wasn't terrible against them just not near his career average. Gavaskar and Border go down, for example. These are not career averages btw, but their averages when Richards was playing.

Javed's does by a bit. He wasn't terrible against them just not near his career average. Gavaskar and Border go down, for example. These are not career averages btw, but their averages when Richards was playing.

Note: Couldn't find a place for Sydney Barnes among top 5 pace or spin bowlers because noone knows to which category he belonged. But almost certainly he can get into either.

Last edited by weldone; 03-03-2009 at 07:19 AM.

"I want to raise my hand and say one thing. Those who complain about my love for the game or commitment to the game are clueless. These are the only 2 areas where I give myself 100 out of 100."
- Sachin Tendulkar, as told in an interview published in Bengali newspaper Anandabazar Patrika after his 100th International century (translated by weldone)

Sean, you really should learn the difference between wicketkeepers and wicketkeeper-batsmen.

Anyway, without putting a particularly massive amount of thought into this... since 1900 only (none of this all-time lark for me), and the longer form of the game only considered (no limited-overs stuff)...

1. Adam Gilchrist
2. Les Ames
3. Alec Stewart
4. Jeffrey Dujon
5. Farokh Engineer
NOTE: Andy Flower was in my view beyond doubt the best batsman of those who kept wicket regularly in a Test career. However, he wasn't all that much of a wicketkeeper. Sangakkara also excluded because he's changed between batsman and batsman-wicketkeeper so many times in his career. SO...Top 4 Wicketkeepers

A wonderful set of selections, Archie. I wonder whether half the posters here know who half the players you've chosen are.

Anyhow I'm predictably gratified to see that a certain cricketing backwater on the English South Coast can lay some sort of claim to no fewer than 3 of these players (and, for good measure, a 4th died there).